Enzymatic rearrangement of chitine hydrolysates with beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Aspergillus oryzae

The role of higher chitooligomers in medical applications is increasing due to their interesting biological activities. Transglycosylation activity of beta -N-acetylhexosaminidase from Aspergillus oryzae was employed to produ ce higher chitooligosaccharides (chitohexaose-chitooctaose) from a mixture of lower chitooligomers prepared by acid hydrolysis of chitin. Enzymatic re arrangement of the chitooligomer mixture was optimized in respect of substr ate concentration, presence of inorganic salts, enzyme activity, and reacti on time to achieve the highest production of longer chitooligomers. (C) 200 1 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.